Banded Elegant Tern in Peru

[Birdbing]

Hi,

This is my first experience with this website and I have a question. I photographed a flock of Elegant Terns (Probable ID) on a beach south of Lima, Peru and noticed that one has a band. Is this information valuable to anyone, or does the band have to be read (not possible in this case)? I have several photographs.

Thanks,
Steve

[MichaelF]

Welcome to the forum!

In general, you need to read the number on the ring, or if colour-ringed, note the combinations of colours used.

[AndyB]

Hi Steve, can you post the photo - does it have a colored band? Wonder if it could be a Bolsa Chica bird south of LA:
http://www.fws.gov/bolsachica/ElegantTernprofile.htm
We used to have a nice up and coming colony in LA harbor that were also being banded until they were criminally wiped out during breeding season:
http://www.ibrrc.org/tern_reward.html

[Birdbing]

Attached (I hope) are two photos of the banded bird. The location is Playa Barrancadero, which is a beach community 118 kms south of Lima on the Panamerican Highway. Last year I only saw one pair of these terns. This year a group of maybe 20 birds hung around for nearly a week.

I hope this helps somebody, but probably not without being able to read the tag.

Cheers, and thanks for the replies.

Steve

[MichaelF]

Yep, that's just a normal numbered metal ring, no use without the number on the ring, unfortunately. In the entire Elegant Tern population, there will probably be humdreds of birds with similar rings on.

[AndyB]

yes, that's a tough one I'm afraid.